A BALER AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING UNIFORMITY OF THE DENSITY OF A ROUND BALE

A belt baler (1) comprising a chassis (5) supported on ground engaging wheels (6) comprises a housing (3) having a first part (8) and a second part (10) housing belts (20) defining a variable diameter bale chamber (25). The second part (10) is pivotally coupled to the first part (8) about a pivot axis (14) and is pivotal from a closed state for forming a bale and an open state for discharge of a bale from the bale chamber (25). A pair of retaining devices (39) comprising latches (40) on respective opposite sides of the first part (8) are engageable with corresponding latch pins (45) on respective opposite sides of the second part (10) for retaining the second part (10) in the closed state. Load sensors (59) coupled by first and second connecting members (64,65) between distal ends (49) of the respective latch pins (45) and anchor brackets (60) located on the second parts (10) produce signals indicative of the forces induced in the respective retaining devices (39) by the pressure being applied to a bale being formed in the bale chamber (25). A microprocessor (75) reads signals from the load sensors (59) and determines the uniformity or non-uniformity of the density of the bale across the axial length thereof from the signals read from the load sensors (59). An output signal from the microprocessor (75) is applied to a visual display device (77) which presents a display screen (78) to a driver indicating the direction of travel or a change in direction of travel of the baler (1) required to maintain uniform density or to correct for non-uniformity of the density of the bale by appropriately displaying a central cross sign (80), or arrows (83) in respective sections (81) of an area (79) of the screen (78).